Alas, the Gorillaz have finally made their triumphant and much needed return. On the eve on President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration day, the animated band curated by Damon Albarn and Jamie Hewlett released the politically-charged track “Hallelujah Money” in collaboration with British-French singer songwriter Benjamin Clementine. This is the first release from the band in six years since their 2011 record The Fall. The group has teased their upcoming album for some time now and fans finally have something to hold on to until that long awaited day comes supposedly at the end of this year.
Dark times – u need someone to look up to. Me. Here’s a lightning bolt of truth in a black night. Now piss on! New stuff won’t write itself. https://t.co/tOqYnXqrU2
— gorillaz (@gorillaz) January 19, 2017
“Hallelujah Money” is legibly countering the infamous antics of Trump’s hateful rhetoric that have persisted throughout his campaign and election into office. It is also accompanied by a visually stimulating music video which perfectly blends with the powerful lyrics of the track. Benjamin Clementine begins in a Trump Tower hallway, making his was into an ascending elevator that moves its way through various projections of cartoons, the KKK, and jarring television clips denoting an angry and sad undertone. To conclude the ominous video, the screen is taken over by a surprise cameo from Spongebob Squarepants running away in terror, lightening the mood with a familiar childhood figure. Clementine’s demeanor seemingly looks into our souls trying to either comfort us or warn us of the Trump’s impending impact on the people he will soon govern.
Watch and listen to the Gorillaz long awaited return below.
Lyrics:
Here is our tree
That primitively grows
When we go to bed
Scare crows from the Far a-East
Come to eat its tender fruits
I have thought that the
Best way to protect our tree
Is by building walls
Walls like unicorns in full glory and galore
Even stronger than the walls of Jericho
Be glad then my friend
That in a few
We shall reap abundantly
What we’d always dreamt of havin
Enough of the starvin
It is love
That is the root of all evil
Not our tree
And thank you my friend
For trusting me
Hallelujah Money
Hallelujah Money
How will we know
When the morning comes
We are still humanz.
How will we know?
How will we dream?
How will we love?
How will we know?
Don’t worry my friend
If this be the end
Then so shall it be
Until we say so
Nothing will move
Ah, don’t worry
It is not against our morals
It’s legally tender
Touch my friend
What the whole world, and whole beasts of nations desire: power
Hallelujah Money
Cross the chemtrail sun
Hallelujah Money
